Duchess Camilla

Duchess Camilla

Britain's Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla opened Chelsea Children's Hospital yesterday (18.03.14).

The royal couple visited the state-of-the-art facility at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, where they had a chance to meet patients and staff and check out a new piece of medical equipment.

The Duchess had a cuddle with 10-month-old Maijed Dhaif, who was born 26 weeks premature and requires intravenous feeding due to gastroenteritis issues, when he yanked out her earring.

However, the 66-year-old royal, who has two children and five grandchildren, made light of the situation by telling staff that the fancy jewellery wasn't actually attached through her ear.

She said: "Don't worry, it's a clip on."

Camilla had a beaming smile on her face as she cradled the tot and claimed he reminded her of her stepson Prince William and his wife Duchess Catherine's child Prince George.

She said: "Holding him like this reminds me of George."

The pair then moved on to a different section of the facility, which cares for more than 75,000 children every year, where they met surgeons operating the UK's only paediatric da Vinci robot.

The clever machine can move its arm, just like the human wrist, which allows operations to be carried out with more precision and less potential damage to the tissue.

While unveiling the plaque to officially open the clinic, Prince Charles said: "We are so delighted to come and join you on this occasion. We both worried a great deal that we'd caused enough disruption to the smooth running of this hospital for one day."


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